Sea trials of Russian nuke sub for India on schedule
24 Jul 2009
Khabarovsk: Final sea trials of a Russian Akula II-class nuclear-powered submarine, slated for lease to the Indian Navy, are continuing on schedule, a shipyard official said Friday. The submarine had been involved in a fatal accident last year resulting in the loss of 20 lives.
The vessel resumed sea trials on 10 July in the Sea of Japan following extensive repairs.
"The resumed sea trials are going according to schedule," the official at the Amur shipyard said, without specifying when the tests would be completed.
Earlier, defence officials had indicated that the trials would continue for about two weeks.
India has reportedly paid $650 million for a 10-year lease of the 12,000-ton K-152 Nerpa, a Schucka-B class (NATO: Akula II) nuclear-powered attack submarine. Such vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of all Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.
On 8 November 2008, while the Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan, its on-board fire suppression system went off, releasing the deadly Freon gas into the sleeping quarters, killing three crewmembers and 17 shipyard workers.